day trip to hakone from tokyo

Full-Day Hakone Day Trip from Tokyo with Lake Ashi Cruise and Mount Fuji Views

Discover Hakone with a leading expert

The Finer Details
Soak in the natural beauty of Hakone on this day trip to Hakone from Tokyo, complete with a Lake Ashi cruise, a trip on the Hakone Ropeway, and, clear skies permitting, views of the iconic Mount Fuji. Your day begins at Tokyo Station, where you’ll meet your guide, hop aboard the Shinkansen and speed out of the city, witnessing the Japanese countryside unfold before your eyes.

Are you staying in Hakone? You can join our guide in Hakone directly. Check the logistics notes below for more information about it.

Tour Description

You’ll arrive in Odawara and step into the heart of Hakone's charm, thanks to the Hakone Round Course, a well-organized public transport system that includes trains, buses, boats and cable cars. You'll enjoy a scenic Lake Ashi cruise, gliding across its clear waters while gazing at the reflection of Mount Fuji in the distance.

From here, you’ll catch the Hakone Ropeway (the local cable car) and enjoy views over the national park on your way to Owakudani, a geothermal valley known for its dramatic volcanic activity. Here, your expert will discuss the natural hot springs of the area and their importance to Japan’s deeply ingrained onsen culture. You may also try the area’s famous black eggs cooked in the hot springs, said to add years to your life.

Depending on your interests, your day trip may also include a visit to the Hakone Open-Air Museum, to enjoy a showcase of contemporary art amidst natural beauty, or the historic Hakone Shrine, where ancient traditions meet the serene surroundings. Finally, your adventure comes full circle as you return to Odawara for your Shinkansen back to Tokyo. You’ll return to the city with a newfound appreciation for the connections between Japan’s culture and its nature.

Choose this tour if...

  • You're seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city during your trip to Tokyo
  • You’re interested in learning about Japanese nature and onsen culture

Sites Visited

  • Hakone - scenic mountain town famous for its hot springs and views of Mount Fuji
  • Lake Ashi Cruise - a sightseeing cruise across Lake Ashi that offers some of the best views of Mount Fuji on a clear day
  • Owakudani - a geothermal valley with active sulfur vents and hot springs
  • Hakone Ropeway - a cable car providing transport over and views of the Owakudani Valley 

Logistics

General Information
  • There will be breaks in the tour to stop and use bathroom facilities as well as opportunities to stop and rest along the way if needed. Please communicate any mobility needs or concerns with our team at the time of booking. 

If you are staying in Hakone, you can still join the tour! 
  • The meeting point will be in front of the shop Picot just outside of Hakone Yumoto Station, located at 256-1 Yumoto, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0392, Japan" at 10:00 AM. (Please note that this is the meeting point ONLY if you are starting the tour in Hakone, NOT if you are departing from Tokyo)
  • The tour will last 6.5h
  • Your guide will join you in Hakone directly
  • After you book the tour, we will reimburse you for the train tickets from Tokyo
  • Please leave us a note when you book the tour so that we can adapt the new meeting point

Tickets
  • You can choose whether to add the Shinkansen round-trip train tickets or a car transfer to your booking.
  • Includes the Hakone Free Pass for public transport around Hakone

Transport 
  • Your day will be about 10 hours total, including your transport time needed to travel to Hakone from Tokyo and back to Tokyo from Hakone
  • You will meet your guide at Tokyo Station and travel together to Odawara by Shinkansen, where you’ll transfer to the Hakone Round Course, completing the rest of the tour using local transportation
  • At the end of your time in Hakone, you will travel back to Tokyo by Shinkansen with your guide

Optional car service
  • We offer an optional car service for this tour. If you book with the car service, it will pick you up at your accommodation
  • If you wish to book the optional car service, please tell us your hotel or apartment address in the 'Additional Details' box when adding the tour to your shopping cart.

Lunch
  • There will be time allotted to take a break for lunch, which is not included in the tour price and will be at your own expense.
Book a Tour
Where You’ll Go

From iconic landmarks to tucked-away local favorites, these are the places you’ll explore and experience firsthand with your Expert.

  • Lake Ashi
  • Hakone
  • Hakone Ropeway
  • Owakudani
  • Views of Mount Fuji
What’s Included As Standard
Here’s a look at what your tour covers, plus anything you’ll want to consider arranging separately, so you can plan with confidence.
Included
  • English-speaking expert guide
    Tours led in English, offering you unbroken understanding throughout.
  • Intentionally sized groups
    A smaller group means more time for conversations and questions.
  • Tickets and entrance fees
    All entry tickets included (unless clearly stated otherwise).
  • Headsets
    Headsets are included on tours that need them, so every word can be heard.
Excluded
  • Gratuities
    We encourage tipping as a way to thank your guide after your experience.
  • Food and drink
    Refreshments are only included during a tour when clearly noted.
  • Transportation to and from the meeting point
    Guests organize pre- and post-tour transport themselves - this service can be added by request.
  • Hotel pickup or drop-off
    Unless noted, travel to or from accommodation isn’t included - this service can be added by request.
Where You'll Explore
Map of Full-Day Hakone Day Trip from Tokyo with Lake Ashi Cruise and Mount Fuji Views general meeting point area

Make the Most of Your Tour

Some helpful advice for getting the most from your experience, from practical prep to small on-the-day tips.

Dos:
  • Wear comfortable footwear
  • Check the weather and dress appropriately
  • Bring a bottle of water (no glass)
  • Feel free to ask your Expert anything
Don'ts:
  • Bring firearms or weapons
  • Bring sharp objects (e.g. knives, swiss army knives, switchblades, hiking sticks)
  • Dress inappropriately to enter religious sites or sacred monuments
Any questions? You can always contact us.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes - we have an optional 10-hour car service product that clients can book if they prefer. We would recommend this particularly for less mobile clients as the route by public transport can be tiring for some.
Unfortunately, no - the only way for you to sit with the guide on the train is by using tickets bought directly by the guide, therefore, you must purchase Shinkansen tickets through us.
No, the guide will explain to you the meaning and importance of the onsen in Japanese culture, but you will not actually join one. 
You will travel from Tokyo to Odawara by Shinkansen, transferring to a bus to take you down to Lake Ashi. You’ll take a sightseeing boat across Lake Ashi and then will travel on the Hakone Ropeway to Owakudani. You will also travel on the Tozan mountain train, which offers beautiful views of the natural surroundings.
Yes, the cruise and the trip on the Hakone Ropeway will still be included in your tour.
If you add participants after the time of booking, we cannot guarantee it can be accommodated within a 30-day period before your tour date. Please reach out as soon as you know to inquire about the possibility.
Yes. Context clients generally tip anywhere from 10-25% of the purchase price of a personal service such as this, depending on the quality of the experience and their tipping habits.
Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.
  • Wheelchair accessibility
    • Hakone Round Course (including the Lake Ashi Cruise and Hakone Ropeway is wheelchair accessible).
    • The Shinkansen is also wheelchair accessible
    • Owakudani is partially wheelchair accessible - some paths around are wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs, but there are some parts of the side that are only accessible by stairs
    • Optional venues 

Don’t just take our word for it

43 Reviews

Rafa was incredible! We did not have the best weather, but he made up for it! He was so wonderful very insightful. Will definitely recommend him and request him again on my next visit to Japan

Jefferson did amazing. We enjoyed our time despite not being able to see Fuji.

Jeff is a very wonderful guide with lots of knowledge and he is very interesting. Highly recommend.

Photo Shared by Deanna with their review

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